PALM SPRINGS, CA –The Palm Springs POWER turned Tuesday night’s SCCBL contest into a rout, crushing the Riverside Rebels 15-3 at Palm Springs Stadium.
T.J. Bennett enjoyed his second five hit game of the season, finishing a triple shy of the cycle while driving in four runs. Bennett also had five hits in a June 7 victory over the Rebels.
The Rebels grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but it was short-lived as the POWER (29-3, 13-2) plated three runs in the second inning behind hits from Jake Howeth, Austin Barrett, and Brett Sullivan. Sullivan finished the night 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
Bennett homered to lead off the third inning and give the POWER a 4-2 lead.
The lead was 4-3 heading to the bottom of the fourth, when the POWER bats erupted for five runs on five hits. After Barrett led off with a groundout, Eric Urry walked and Michael Massi singled to right. Rebel right fielder Brad Young threw the ball away, allowing Urry to score and Massi to move to second base. Massi then scored on a Sullivan single for a 6-3 lead. After Jared Theisen struck out, five straight men reached base to force in another three runs and give Palm Springs a 9-3 lead.
The POWER added three more runs in the fifth inning, when Sullivan, Bennett, and Anthony Lombardo all doubled in a four batter span.
The exclamation point on the offensive explosion was Ryan Jones’ home run to lead off the seventh inning. The blast was his fourth of the season and eighth of his career, making him the POWER’s all-time career home run leader.
Ryan Harper (2-0) picked up the win, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings and tying his season-high with nine strikeouts. Miguel Navarro (0-1) took the loss for the Rebels (7-14, 2-10), allowing nine runs in 3 2/3 innings.
The POWER and Rebels return to the field Wednesday at 7:05pm. It will be a Dollar Admission Wednesday, with general admission tickets just $1. Fans that can’t make it to the game can listen online at pspbb.com.
